Push toy



May 29, 1956 Filed April 24, 1952 A.IM. ZALKIND PUSH TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

May 29, 1956 A. .M. ZALKIND 2,747,328

PUSH TOY Filed April 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent PUSH TOY Albert M. Zalkind, Arlington, Va.

Application April 24, 1952, Serial No. 284,024

17 Claims. (Cl. 16-114) This invention relates to toys and more particularly to push toys of the type propelled by a stick.

An object of the invention is to provide a push toy affording a spectacular sight, accompanied by acertain degree of sound. Another object is to provide a push toy of rugged construction commensurate with cost.

In general my invention comprises a cage in which a plurality of balls are carried. the balls being free to carom and bounce about at random. Means actuated by the wheels is utilized to strike the balls and bounce them about in the cage.

A detailed description will now be givenin conjunction with the appended drawing, in which Figure l is a front view in elevation of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view in section through 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view in section of another form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a side view in section of a further form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the actuating means used in the form shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view in section of a still further form:

Figure 7 is a front view of an element of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an elevation in section of an additional form of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a front view of a portion of Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the invention comprises acage having sides 2 and dowel spacers 4, holding aplurality of balls 6- which may be wood, rubber or of the Ping-pong type.

Blocks 8' and" 10 are secured between sides 2'; the former receiving apush stick 1 2 and the latter securing and supporting a pair of leaf springs 14, which may be of wood and which can be fastened in slot'16 in any suitable manner, preferably radial with axle 18 The cage is mounted on an axle 18 supported on and rotated by wheels 20. A pair of square cams. 22 are carried on and keyed to the axle, revolving therewith: as indicated by the arrow.

The arrangement is such that the balls.- gravitate tothe bottom of the cage; when the device. is pushed the: cam corners flex and snap the free ends of the springs repeatedly; the springs striking the balls. The balls are thus propelled in a random and rapid fashion, bouncing off the dowels and effecting an unusual combination of sight and sound. Ordinarily the stick is tilted at about a 45 angle when being pushed, which assures the balls being engaged by the springs. The cams may be offset 45 rotationally with respect to each other to reduce the torsional axle stress, thus making the axle easier to rotate and hence reducing the size of the wheels required.

In Figure 3 a simplified combination is shown wherein a cage generally designated as 28 holds a plurality of balls which gravitate toward the bottom and ride directly on a cam 30. The cam is of transverse width sufficient to prevent the balls from escaping downwardly; or a series ICC of spaced cams, olfset rotationally 45 with respect to each other can be used. In revolving, the cam corners protrude sufficiently into the cage to engage the balls and thus act as an impeller. The spacing between the uppermost dowels 32 is such that a child can remove and replace the balls, or other objects, such as spherical bells, blocks, etc. thus affording additional play value. The spacing between the lowermost dowels may be such as to accommodate a single transverse row of balls or a double row as shown.

In Figure 4 is illustrated a simplified version wherein the axle 34 carries a plurality of looped wire springs 36, which may be a continuous bent wire as shown in Figure 5, keyed by staples 38 to axle 34 or crimped thereon. The springs are preferably radial with axle 34 and are repeatedly flexed and snapped, as the axle rot-ates, against the dowel 40' which in this instance is shown as the only dowel in the rotational path of the free ends of the springs. This gives a snapping action only when the toy is pushed forward. The spacing between dowel 40 and the next adjacent dowel 42 is such that the balls are permitted to protrude downwardly a sufiicient degree to be engaged by the snapping springs and thus propelled about in the cage.

If a series of cams are used angularly offset with respect to each other so as to effect a plurality of spaced support points 360- about the axle, the wheels may be eliminated and the toy rolled on the cam combination, which is in effect, like a spiked roller as shown in Figure 6. The cams should be keyed tothe axle 44 to maintain their angular relationship and to keep the toy balanced particularly if square, rectangular or triangular cams 46, as shown, are used. If, however, pentagonal cams or cams having more than five sides are used they may be permitted to rotate on the axle at random, although they will ordinarily roll in unison.

The relationships described above are very general and, of course, proper operability depends on cam dimensions and coefficients of friction as well as the sharpness of the edges of the cams as they engage a floor.

What has been said above with respect to elimination of the wheels in Figure 6, also'holds with respect to Fig ure 1, wherein the toy can roll on a plurality of cams which also trip the springs, or on a single elongated cam preferably of five or more sides. The more the sides, the greater the tendency to roll rather than to slide.

It will be apparent that the form of carns illustrated could be replaced with an axle having a plurality of dowel pegs radiating from it spaced longitudinally and circumferentially so as toprovide engagement with the balls, while at the same time supporting the axle as it rotates.

Figure 8-shows a further modification comprising a conventional type of revolving: cage 50 andthe usual bracket 52. In this instance an axle 54 fixed to the bracket passes through the cage and a series of leaf springs. 56,. which may be severalin number (two being illustrated) are suitably secured in slots in the axle, radially extending. The. free ends of the springs extend into the spacings between dowel bars 58. They are preferably spaced circumferentially so that as the cage revolves, the springs are tripped one at a time by the bars to minimize the effort required to push the toy. Suitable longitudinal spring spacing is provided to achieve frequent striking of the balls wherever they may be in the length of the cage. The balls are thrown against the springs by the rotation of the cage, and the springs serve to snap in directions opposite to that effected by the rolling cage.

I am aware that many variations of my invention are possible and accordingly do not seek to be limited to the forms illustrated except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A push toy comprising a receptacle having a plurality of loose objects movable about therein at random, said receptacle being mounted on roller means, a plurality of actuating elements engageable with said objects, said actuating elements being motivated by said roller means and being spaced widthwise of said receptacle when said toy is pushed so as to propel said objects about in said receptacle in a chance and random manner, said actuating elements having access to said loose objects at points spaced along the axis of said roller means and said loose objects being free to move to any position in said receptacle to be engaged by any of said actuating elements.

2. A push toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said roller means comprises an axle, said actuating means comprising elements rotatable therewith, said elements being postioned so as to engage said objects as it revolves.

3. A push toy as set forth in claim 2, wherein said actuating means comprises cams mounted on said axle, and an opening in said receptacle through which said cams can engage said objects.

4. A push toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuating elements comprise springs having free ends engageable with said objects, and means disposed fixedly relative the receptacle for flexing and snapping said free ends so as to strike sharp blows on said objects.

5. A push toy as set forth in claim 4 wherein said springs are carried by said roller means and revolve therewith.

6. A push toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuating elements comprise springs having free ends, including means for flexing and snapping said free ends comprising a trip means carried by said roller means and engageable with said free ends, said free ends engaging said objects and striking sharp blows thereon.

7. A push toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receptacle is provided with an opening to which said objects gravitate, said objects being of a dimension to protrude therethrough, said actuating elements being disposed to engage the protruding portions of said objects.

8. A push toy comprising a cage, a plurality of loosely movable objects therein, actuating members spaced widthwise of said cage and engageable at random with said objects, an element having relative rotation with respect to said cage, said actuating members being motivated by said relative rotation between said cage and said element, said actuating members having access to said objects at points spaced along the axis of rotation between said element and said cage, and said objects being free to move to any position in said cage to be engaged by any of said actuating members.

9. A push toy as set forth in claim 8, wherein said rotative element comprises an axle and said actuating members comprise cam means carried thereby and disposed to strike said objects.

10. A push toy as set forth in claim 8, wherein said actuating members comprise springs, said cage having means which trips said springs upon relative rotation between said cage and said element.

11. A push toy as set forth in claim 8, wherein said relatively rotative element comprises an axle, said actuating members comprising projections spaced thereon circumferentially so as to support said axle in rotation relative a floor.

12. A push toy comprising a cage, a plurality of loosely movable objects in said cage, an axle rotatively secured to said cage, a plurality of polygonal shaped cams mounted on said axle and rotative therewith, the bottom of said cage being sufiiciently open to permit engagement between said objects and said cams, each of said cams to permit engagement between said objects and said cams, each of said cams having at least three corners for engagement with said objects.

13. A toy comprising a cage, a plurality of loosely movable objects in said cage, a rotative shaft rotatably secured to the cage, a resilient U-shaped member having its ends secured to said shaft and rotative therewith, means fixedly disposed relative the cage for tripping said member as said shaft rotates, said member being disposed so as to strike said objects upon being tripped, and means for effecting relative rotation between said cage and said shaft.

14. A toy comprising a cage having a plurality of movable objects therein, a shaft rotatably secured to the cage, resilient striker means carried by said shaft, means fixedly disposed relative the cage for tripping said striker means upon relative motion between said shaft and cage, said striker means being disposed so as to engage said objects upon being tripped, and means for effecting relative rotation between said cage and said shaft.

15. A push toy comprising a cage having a plurality of movable objects therein and being provided with a rotative shaft, a plurality of polygonal blocks on said shaft and rotative therewith, said blocks being disposed so that the corners thereof strike said objects as said shaft is rotated.

16. A push toy comprising a cage, a plurality of loosely movable objects therein, percussive actuating means disposed for random engagement with said objects, an element having relative rotation with respect to said cage and being rotatably secured thereto, said actuating means being motivated by said element when said element and cage have relative rotation with respect to each other, said actuating means being resilient and disposed to be flexed by said element to eifect percussive blows on said objects.

17. A toy comprising a receptacle having a plurality of loose objects movable at random therein, a shaft disposed for rotation relative said receptacle, flexible means disposed relative the receptacle for striking said objects as said flexible means is flexed and snapped, said flexible means comprising at least one loop of flexible material having ends secured to said shaft and means for providing relative rotation between said shaft and said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

